German industrial employment down 7.1% since 2018; services add 2.2M jobs

Ifo Institute data shows German industrial employment fell 7.1% (nearly 500,000 jobs) from end-2018 to end-2025, while services added over 2.2 million jobs. This structural shift underscores persistent deindustrialization pressures in Europe's largest economy, with implications for growth and policy. The trend is confirmed but the study's methodology and broader economic impact remain to be fully assessed.